MCC Exploring Move

Editorial: Schooling downtown

By Muskegon Chronicle
October 11, 2009

MUSKEGON - Over the next nine months, Muskegon Community College plans to explore the possibility of moving one or more of its programs downtown.

MCC, like Baker College, is experiencing record enrollment and needs to develop more facilities to meet the demand. The successful opening of Baker College’s new Culinary Institute of Michigan downtown — including a 68 percent increase in culinary class enrollment — is inspiring. A similar jump in enrollment in a downtown program for MCC would certainly help a new facility pay for itself, while creating more space on the MCC campus for other programs.

MCC President Dale Nesbary, who has been on the job about four months, told chamber members recently that he will work with business leaders to develop a strategy for moving programs downtown. He has suggested downtown programs could include natural sciences, humanities/fine arts or continuing education. And he wants to hear from business and community leaders about programs they would like MCC to offer.

It’s a golden opportunity. And an important one.

We agree with Community Foundation for Muskegon County President Chris McGuigan, that any new MCC program downtown needs to provide a “wow” factor that might spur other downtown and waterfront development. It also needs to work well with existing downtown businesses and Baker College.

So, what would work best?

We think the best fit would be a humanities and fine arts  program— and we’re defining that broadly.

With the Muskegon Museum of Art, the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, L.C. Walker Arena, the Lakeshore Museum Center, West Michigan Symphony, Muskegon Civic Theatre and the Watermark Center movie studio all within blocks of each other, a humanities and fine arts student could find just about any resource he or she might need right downtown.

Developing a partnership with these institutions would certainly enhance MCC’s traditional fine arts, theater, dance and vocal and instrumental music programs. A partnership also will help these institutions grow as they are invigorated by the energy and curiosity of an influx of students learning — and questioning — their displays and operations.

Nesbary also is in a unique position, through his longtime membership on the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp board, to draw on resources there. Perhaps Blue Lake would consider a winter program in partnership with MCC or maybe some of the camp’s summer instructors could provide workshops for MCC’s students.

In addition, we would like to see a new moviemaking program developed in combination with an expansion of the radio and television courses already established.

Also, Web design and development and a graphic arts component could be part of the expanded humanities and fine arts program. One suggestion for a certificate program is digital storytelling, which could be used to enhance the Web sites of area businesses or could fit in with the moviemaking and expanded radio and television program.

Other possible programs could include animation, video game design and photography.

The creative energy the students would bring downtown could invigorate an entire community. Plus, the humanities/fine arts students would be a good fit for the foodies at CIM.

For the city, it will mean continued expansion and improvement in downtown at a time when private investment is unlikely.

The city’s plan is to become a global leader in advanced manufacturing in metals, plastics, alternative energy and agricultural processing; a regional center for health care; and a regional center for retail services. The city also plans to expand its tourism base.

Slowly, but surely the city is redefining itself — with a little help from its friends.